Island



(No Model.)

1). 0. PERKINS.

BREAST PUMP. No. 250,452. Patented De0. 6,1881.

WITNESSES INVENTORI Qwwe 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL O. PERKINS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOSEPH DAVOL, OF SAME PLACE.

BREAST-PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,452, dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed May 9, 1881. (No model.)

uum to relieve the breast and cause the lacteal fluid to flow from the same.

The invention consists in providing the breast-pump with a simple, cheap, and efficient relief-valve or air-duct, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

When a breast-pump is used the cap is usu- 2o ally wetted on its rim to make a tight joint with the breast, and the suction-bulb is operated to draw the air from the bulb and the lacteal fluid from the breast. The cup is therefore held by atmospheric pressure to the breast, and it is painful to remove the same unless air is admitted to the cup, so that an equilibrium of pressure is produced. The object of this invention is to produce a cheap and simple airvent that can be quickly operated.

Figure l is a view of the breast-pump, the tube connecting the cup with the bulb being shown partly in section, so as to show the airvent. Fig. 2 is a view of the connecting-tube and the air-vent. Fig. 3 is a view of the con- 3 5 necting-tube, shown partly in section, the airvent being shown closed. Fig. 4 is a view of the connecting-tube, partly in section, the tube being shown bent and the-air-vent open.

In the drawings, 2 represents the cup of the breast-pump, which may be of any of the ordinary forms. 11 is a receptacle for the lacteal fluid drawn from the breast. c is an elastic rubber bulb provided with two check-valves. d is the tube connecting the cup at with the 5 bulb c; and e is my improved air-vent, which consists in cutting an angular slit into one side of the tube (7.

The operation of the breast-pump is as follows: The cup a being placed against the breast, the bulb c is compressed and the air expelled therefrom. It is now released, and by its expansion the air is drawn from the cup at, the breast being partly drawn into the cup a, and by repeating the compression and expansion of the bulb c a partial vacuum is secured, and the lacteal fluid is drawn from the breast, thus relieving the same.

The air-vent c is preferably placed on the lower side of the connecting-tube d, but it may be placed anywhere on the tube. When the tube d is straight the suction of the bulb, or, more properly speaking, the'atmospheric pressure, keeps the two beveled edges of the air-vent in close contact, the lower beveled edge forming the seat for the upper edge, thus making an air-tight joint or valve. When,now, the cup a is to be released the bulb is raised or moved, so as to bend the tube (1, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the air-vent is opened, and the cup at once released from the breast, as the inrushing air instantly establishes an equilibrium of pressure. This air-vent is so simple in construction, certain in its operation, and durable that it forms a most desirable addition to a breast-pump.

I am aware that a valve formed by cutting a slit inwardly to the bore through the wall of a flexible tube is old and commonly known as a flea-bite valve, and I do not claim such a valve in any other relation than that which I have shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- The combination, with the cup at and bulb c, of the flexible connecting-tube (I, having a cut or air-vent formed therein, substantially as described, which is adapted to be opened and closed by the bending of the tube, for the purpose set forth.

DANIEL O. PERKINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. MILLER, J r., WM. L. GooP. 

